The question was raised in a recent discussion if a Grammy still mattered. Now granted, the fast-paced Internet has tossed a lot of hoopla and huff in our peripheral scope. So much to the point where every award and accolade begin to get clumped together into one big lump of routine kiss-ass. But don’t think for a second there’s not an artist living who doesn’t want to be recognized on music’s biggest stage for doing exactly they’ve been doing.
While Eminem is the sole rap representative in position to take home the gramophone for Album of the Year (only one of his ten nominations), there’s a few more reasons to tune in to root for some of our other favorite artists.Record Of The Year
“Nothin’ On You”
B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine, engineer/mixer
Track from: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray
[Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic]
“Love The Way You Lie”
Eminem Featuring Rihanna
Alex Da Kid & Makeba Riddick, producers; Alex Da Kid, Eminem & Mike Strange, engineers/mixers
Track from: Recovery
[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]
“F*** You”
Cee-Lo Green
The Smeezingtons, producers
[Elektra]
“Empire State Of Mind”
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
Angela Hunte, Jane’t “Jnay” Sewell-Ulepic & Shux, producers; Ken “Duro” Ifill, Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton & Ann Mincieli, engineers/mixers
Track from: The Blueprint 3
[Roc Nation]
“Need You Now”
Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum & Paul Worley, producers; Clarke Schleicher, engineer/mixer
Track from: Need You Now
[Capitol Records Nashville]We want B.o.B to win because what better to cap off an already-incredible year? Eminem has enough crowded mantleplaces and Cee-Lo is very fortunate to even be nominated with that title. And while it’s hard to believe that “Empire State of Mind” is Jigga’s first #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, need you be reminded that the Yankees didn’t even make it to the World Series?Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
“Shutterbugg”
Big Boi & Cutty
Track from: Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty
[Def Jam Recordings]
“Fancy”
Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz
Track from: Thank Me Later
[Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Motown]
“On To The Next One”
Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz
Track from: The Blueprint 3
[Roc Nation]
“My Chick Bad”
Ludacris & Nicki Minaj
Track from: Battle Of The Sexes
[DTP/ Def Jam Recordings]
“Lose My Mind”
Young Jeezy & Plies
Track from: Trapper Democracy Detox
[Def Jam Recordings]We want Big Boi to win because how many rappers have the ‘nads to aim to be different when crafting club material nowadays? We still like to cut a rug without your generic chorus and perfectly cropped 16 bar verses.Best Rap Solo Performance
“Over”
Drake
Track from: Thank Me Later
[Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Motown]
“Not Afraid”
Eminem
Track from: Recovery
[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]
“How Low”
Ludacris
Track from: Battle Of The Sexes
[DTP/Def Jam Recordings]
“I’m Back”
T.I.
Track from: King Uncaged
[Grand Hustle/Atlantic]
“POWER”
Kanye West
Track from: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
[Def Jam Recordings/Roc-A-Fella]We want Kanye West to win because My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy didn’t make the committee’s September 30th deadline so giving the best track here the courtesy is the least they can do. I mean c’mon…he made the video A PORTRAIT! A PORTRAIT FAM!!!Best Rap AlbumThe Adventures Of Bobby Ray
B.o.B
[Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic]Thank Me Later
Drake
[Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Motown]Recovery
Eminem
[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]The Blueprint 3
Jay-Z
[Roc Nation]How I Got Over
The Roots
[Def Jam Recordings]We want Drake to win because it’s the best damn album on the list. Oh, you fancy huh? He’s also up for Best New Artist but nothing is stopping the Justin Bieber machine this year.Shoot over to Grammy.com to check the rest of the nominees.

I expect a “cringe” moment if Kanye were to win something. That dude has a knack for making the most awkward moments possible.

12.02.10 at 11:06 am

Lil' Nello

Big Boi should have been nominated for Rap Album of the Year too but it’s good to see even nominated at all! I think Toni Braxton should have been nominated for at least a couple on the R&B side as well as maybe 1 or a few others! It’s all politriks which is why I pay but don’t pay attention to them anyways! They should have the nominations cover a full Jan-Dec calendar year anyways as well instead of the current format!

12.02.10 at 11:09 am

Fosborne

I would have to disagree with Drake’s album being with the best on the list. I think he came out with your average hip-hop album, nothing too special, new, and didn’t do much to move the genre forward. He used the same typical formula as the average hip hop artists on the radio. B.o.B, Eminem, and especially The Roots all had better albums, but that’s just me…

12.02.10 at 11:17 am

KING_KG

D. Marley & Nas?

Jeezy?Wut?

12.02.10 at 11:26 am

PandasNeedElClassicoToStopBeingCarajo

So Russia and Qatar shelled out that dough. I dont mind Russia, in fact, that is a good choice. But Qatar? Really? They dont even have a stadium. Alcohol is illegal, and their infrastructure cant even handle their current population. This is BS. They got that oil money. Time for a US invasion.

12.02.10 at 12:03 pm

Willie583

So Russia and Qatar shelled out that dough. I dont mind Russia, in fact, that is a good choice. But Qatar? Really? They dont even have a stadium. Alcohol is illegal, and their infrastructure cant even handle their current population. This is BS. They got that oil money. Time for a US invasion.

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They got that oil money=the sentence that got them the World Cup.

Now as for the Grammy list….Thank Me Later was a damn good album, but ain’t no way in hell its better than How I Got Over. C’mon son….Plus we all know Eminem is probably gonna sweep the hip-hop list. And don;t be surprised if that Lady Antebellum song wins Record of the year….the Man and dem[see what I did there] love that song.

12.02.10 at 1:05 pm

elandyo

Listen I’ll be the first to admit that I’m one of those internet blogging-ass hip-hoppers, but I still think it’s a crime that Big Boi was left off album of the year.
We knew that Drake, Em and Jay had to be nominated because they did so well.
That leaves B.O.B and The Roots, both who I thought had good albums but let’s be honest Adventures of Bobby Ray wasn’t touching some of his mixtapes and definitely was not better then General Patton.
Also Empire State of Mind will win everything.

12.02.10 at 1:38 pm

Phillip D. Blunts III

Who else wants to see Drizzy interrupt Ms. Swift when/if she wins anything?

12.02.10 at 2:36 pm

McFearless King LeoN

I know it wasn’t happening because of who he is but I’d have rather seen Sir Lucious instead of Recovery. As a whole that album paled in comparison to what Big Boi brought. I don’t disagree with the other four at all though.

I also 2nd that date format for selection. By this time next year I hope they haven’t forgotten about the epic opus Kanye created as he should rack up across the board for this latest CD.

12.02.10 at 3:21 pm

Athrin

Shoutouts to Bilal for getting a grammy nod. The Stan in me wants the Roots to win, but logic is telling me Aubrey is bringing home the Grammy.

12.02.10 at 4:51 pm

ATI

Recovery will win the rap album of the year seeing as its the only one up for Album of the Year.

I know it wasn’t happening because of who he is but I’d have rather seen Sir Lucious instead of Recovery.

======================================================

On both the Rap album and Album of the Year. I like it better than Thank Me Later.

FO-LLOW US!! NOW!!

12.02.10 at 7:02 pm

Leegle

And I was sure Elton John would be nominated with the buzz for his record.

12.02.10 at 7:03 pm

drew

yeah… these nominations are ridiculous and how much are you guys getting paid to like kanye and drake?

12.02.10 at 7:06 pm

Leegle

And congrats to Black Keys, Jazmine Sullivan, Raheem DeVaughn, John Legend and Janelle Monáe. Janelle should’ve been nominated for album of the year as well but I know… politricks.

12.02.10 at 7:45 pm

JBreeze

Eminem will win best rap album, Lady Gaga will sweep, B.o.B could win a award, Big Boi got fucked, and the Grammy’s as much as i like watching the event, is a popularity contest.

That is all.

12.02.10 at 7:45 pm

billhaverchuk87

I hope people realize Em will win rap album of the year. Not beacause it was the best but because it sold more than almost any album, and despite how terrible it was, Relapse won last time. That’s all that needs to be said.

12.02.10 at 9:02 pm

McFearless King LeoN

Let’s not forget. The Grammy’s have been known to surprise. I will NEVER forget where I was and my reaction to Speakerbox/Love Below winning album of the year. That was when they made paid a few reparations.

12.02.10 at 9:50 pm

karlito

Y’all wildin. Recovery and HIGO are WAY better than Thank me later.

12.03.10 at 12:41 pm

AG

Big Boi should win for best album of the year, but he wasn’t even nominated. If there’s ever a point we need a Kanye to come on stage and set the grammy’s straight it’s now for Big Boi.